Uncommon Leadership

Michael Hunter, Uncommon Change, LLC
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If you've ever felt out of place or been told that your uniqueness is a liability, this podcast is for you. Welcome to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast. I'm your host, Michael Hunter—an executive coach, author of The Resilient Tech Leader, and founder of Uncommon Teams. With over 35 years in tech, including leadership roles at Microsoft and Salesforce, I've learned that you cannot build an Uncommon Team without doing the uncommon work on yourself. So, every week, I invite industry leaders, founders, and innovators to explore self-alignment and help you embody a sense of certainty in the unpredictable world of tech. Because when your certainty takes root, everything levels up. Your leadership becomes unmistakable, your contribution becomes consistent, and your presence reshapes everyone around you. Your uniqueness is a superpower. Imagine what you could create if you unleashed the Uncommon Hero you already are.

  1. 5D AGO

    AI Won't Replace You...But It Will Change You. ft. Ross Smith

    What happens when AI starts doing the things we once believed made us valuable?   In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter of Uncommon Teams, sit down with Ross Smith from Microsoft to explore a question most conversations about AI miss entirely: What does it mean to stay human in this unpredictable age of AI?   Tune in to find out: How to use AI as a strategic sparring partner to debug your own ideas/arguments? Why authenticity, emotional intelligence, and human judgment matter more than ever when building an innovative team... Why your job title should never be your entire identity, and the danger of hiding your full self at work How to position yourself at work for great job satisfaction and speedier career growth Because the future may belong to people who know how to work with AI—but it will especially belong to people who know how to remain deeply human while doing it.   Episode Chapters 0:00 — Introduction 5:53 — How Do You Build a Team That Actually Thrives? 9:36 — Why Should Leaders Give Teams Freedom to Fail? 11:17 — How Do Great Leaders Build Trust With Their Teams? 14:35 — Why Is Having a Life Beyond Work So Important? 20:16 — How Do You Build an Authentic Personal Brand at Work? 28:00 — Is AI Productivity Advice Missing the Bigger Picture? 30:17 — What Does AI Mean for Human Creativity and Leadership? 35:28 — Why Can AI Never Fully Replace Human Leadership? 38:08 — Using AI to Challenge Your Own Thinking 40:19 — How Leaders Can Use AI Before Difficult Meetings 41:08 — Connect with Ross Smith   Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/uncommon-leadership/id1654637165   Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/2BkXGceaZgVWxGQCXcrmgj   This podcast is brought to you by Uncommon Teams: https://uncommonteams.com/   A question for you: What's one hobby or interest you have outside of work that most of your coworkers probably don't know about?   Share in the comments! -- Speakers on this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast   Ross Smith | Guest Speaker Ross Smith spent over three decades leading innovative teams at Microsoft, giving him a front-row seat to the rapid evolution of workplace technology. Today, his focus has shifted to the intersection of human intuition and artificial intelligence. As a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and co-founder of The Future World Alliance, Ross has become a leading voice on how we can use AI to become more human, not less.   He's the author of "AI Revolution in Customer Service and Support" and "AI in the Classroom," and hosts the AI & Creativity Podcast, exploring how humans and AI can partner to unlock new levels of innovation.    Connect with Ross Smith: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosss42/ Email: rosss.rosss@gmail.com AI Prompt of the Day:https://linktr.ee/rosss42 Bonus: Ross is offering an exclusive discount on his book, AI in the Classroom. To claim it, send a message to rosss.rosss@gmail.com with the subject line: "UnCommon Leadership: AI in the Classroom"   Michael Hunter | Host Michael Hunter is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and the founder of Uncommon Teams. Drawing on his experience working with leaders at tech giants like Microsoft and Salesforce, Michael helps founders and Heads of People align personal fulfillment with sustainable business success.   Work with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humbugreality/ Website: https://uncommonteams.com/ Newsletter: https://uncommonteams.com/newsletter-archive/ Read the book: https://uncommonteams.com/resilient-leader-workbook/ Work with Michael Hunter: https://uncommonteams.com/work-with-me/   🎵 Music Credits: Track: A Hope for New Beginning Artist: PremiumBeat Source: Envato Elements License Code: 2JPQCYM3X4

    42 min

  2. MAY 6

    Debugging the Leader: A Framework for Internal Alignment ft. Jon Bach

    You've spent your career mastering the technical.  You know how to debug a system, optimize a workflow, and drive efficiency with data.  But as you move higher into leadership, you realize your most reliable tools, logic and evidence, often fail when applied to the most complex system of all: the human one. In this milestone 100th episode of Uncommon Leadership, Michael Hunter and Jon Bach step away from standard people management advice to investigate the person behind the leader.  Together they explore: What happens when you start paying attention—not just to systems, but to your own patterns, reactions, and internal signals. Why change feels disorienting. Why teams struggle even when the work looks right. Why what we call performance issues are often something else entirely. What it means to lead in a way that includes your mind, your body, your instincts—not just your logic/data. Episode Breakdown 0:00 — Introduction 03:36 — How do you become an uncommon leader?  07:27 — How to decode your body's signals  11:10 —  A go-to question for all tech leaders  15:33 — Why work-life balance is just a myth 19:13 — How to handle layoffs? 26:30 — How to stop carrying regret as a leader 28:34 — How to navigate career transitions? [ Satir Change Model] 40:15 — A mindset shift for dealing with uncertainty  45:37 — The cumulative power of tiny steps 51:26 — Signs you're leading out of alignment 57:46 — How to live in alignment with your base beliefs 01:06:52 — Common vs. Uncommon Leaders 01:17:26 —  The question you need to ask to get to know someone 01:21:16 — Closing Thoughts If you're navigating change, leading a team, or trying to make sense of what feels unclear right now—this episode offers a grounded, human way to approach it. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9vaDKz5TI7gaWKLc801Dw   Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple-  https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/uncommon-leadership/id1654637165   Spotify-  https://open.spotify.com/show/2BkXGceaZgVWxGQCXcrmgj   This podcast is brought to you by Uncommon Teams: https://uncommonteams.com/   -- Speakers on this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast   Jon Bach | Guest Speaker With 30+ years at tech giants like Microsoft and eBay, Jon Bach treats software testing as a treasure hunt for the truth. Combining his background in journalism with deep technical expertise, he approaches code with an investigative lens—viewing every bug as a hidden story waiting to be told.   Jon's mission is deeply human as he helps tech professionals uncover the hidden assumptions and expectations buried in their daily workflows, guiding them to find the absolute truth about their work (and themselves). Outside of the software world, Jon embraces his roots as a freelance writer for Whidbey Weekly and Whidbey Life Magazine.   Connect with Jon Bach: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bachjon Email: jbestpilot@gmail.com Blog: jonbox.wordpress.com Free Resources: satisfice.com     Michael Hunter | Host Michael Hunter is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and the founder of Uncommon Teams. Drawing on his experience working with leaders at tech giants like Microsoft and Salesforce, Michael helps founders and Heads of People align personal fulfillment with sustainable business success.    Using empathetic, human-centric frameworks, Michael guides leaders to build authentic teams, cultivate resilience, and embody certainty.   Work with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humbugreality/ Website: https://uncommonteams.com/  Newsletter: https://uncommonteams.com/newsletter-archive/ Read the book: https://uncommonteams.com/resilient-leader-workbook/ Work with Michael Hunter: https://uncommonteams.com/work-with-me/

    1h 27m

  3. APR 29

    Why Team Problems Aren't What They Seem ft. Todd Hanson

    Are you constantly putting out fires but feeling like your team still isn't moving forward?  This might be happening because you might be solving the wrong problem. In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter sits down with Todd Hanson, founder & inventor of Compass Carts.  In this episode, Todd shares his incredible journey from corporate banking to building a hardware company and the counterintuitive leadership lessons he learned along the way. Whether you are managing a massive corporate department or a small team of external contractors, Todd explains why standard management advice often fails (and what actually works) when you need to get people on the same page. In this episode, we cover: 00:00 - Introduction to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast 03:20 - The Distraction Rule: Why forcing your team to pay attention actually backfires, and how scheduling breaks cures their anxiety. 23:24 - The Prompt Error: Why your team's failure to deliver is usually a communication gap on your end (and how to fix it). 31:48 - The Pivot Method: What great leaders do before they decide to fire a struggling team member. 35:15 - The Promotion Cheat Code: Why the real secret to moving up the corporate ladder happens after 5 PM. 45:41 - The NASCAR Secret: How General Mills saved millions by studying pit crews, and how you can steal ideas from outside your industry. If you want to stop micromanaging and start building a team that actually thrives, this episode is for you. If this episode helped you see a way out, hit the subscribe button so we can keep bringing you the frameworks you need to understand what's true, what matters now, and what's next: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9vaDKz5TI7gaWKLc801Dw Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple-  https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/uncommon-leadership/id1654637165   Spotify-  https://open.spotify.com/show/2BkXGceaZgVWxGQCXcrmgj   This podcast is brought to you by Uncommon Teams: https://uncommonteams.com/ Speakers on this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast Todd Hanson | Guest Speaker Todd Hanson is the founder and inventor of Compass Carts, the innovative hitch hauler company taking social media by storm. Todd spent over two decades in corporate leadership at Wells Fargo, including an eight-year tenure as an AVP. He specializes in bridging the gap between big-business strategy and small-business agility.    Whether he is facilitating large corporate trainings or managing a team of startup contractors, Todd's leadership philosophy is built on streamlining complex processes, asking the right questions, and empowering people to bring their unique expertise to the table.   Connect with Todd Hanson: Website: compasscarts.com Email: ToddH@CompassCarts.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddhanson1/   Michael Hunter | Host Michael Hunter is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and the founder of Uncommon Teams. Drawing on his experience working with leaders at tech giants like Microsoft and Salesforce, Michael helps founders and Heads of People align personal fulfillment with sustainable business success.    Using empathetic, human-centric frameworks, Michael guides leaders to build authentic teams, cultivate resilience, and embody certainty.   Work with Michael if you want to stop simply surviving their daily challenges and start leading with ease: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humbugreality/ Website: https://uncommonteams.com/  Newsletter: https://uncommonteams.com/newsletter-archive/ Read the book: https://uncommonteams.com/resilient-leader-workbook/ Work with Michael Hunter: https://uncommonteams.com/work-with-me/

    51 min

  4. APR 22

    3 Questions Leaders Should Ask Before Shipping Code ft. Radhika Dutt

    Why are so many tech startups struggling even after hitting their quarterly goals?   In this episode, I, Michael Hunter, invite Radhika Dutt, an MIT alum and the author of Radical Product Thinking, to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast.    Together, we debunk the classic Silicon Valley mantra: Build→Test → Learn →Scale   The problem with the traditional goal-setting approach is that it often pulls teams away from the vision and legacy for which the business was originally built.   To help lean startups make the difficult trade-offs between the things that keep the lights on versus the things that drive long-term growth, we offer: An actionable framework to map Long-Term Vision vs. Short-Term Survival decisions. 3 questions that first-time founders must ask to make win-win decisions with certainty [ especially when data is overwhelming or incomplete] The mindset that will help tech leaders sidestep the Silicon Valley trap. The "3 O's" to help you navigate the uncomfortable problem space. Key Moments 00:00 - Introduction to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast 01:32 - Getting to know Radhika Dutt [MIT Engineer, Author, Keynote Speaker ] 05:20 - The Myth of the "Poker-Faced" Leader 08:40 - Processed vs. Raw Emotion at Work 14:04 - How to Build Psychologically Safe Teams 17:32 - Why OKRs Can Be Misleading? 22:09- How to Write Vision Statements for Yourself and Your team 29:03 - The Vision vs. Survival Map: Making Hard Trade-Offs 36:36 - The 3-Question Framework for Win-Win Decisions 42:16 - How to Sidestep the Silicon Valley Trap? 50:57 - The Three O's for Leaders to Navigate the "Problem Space" 53:33 - Advice for Goal-Centric Leaders 57:50 - How to access Radhika Dutt's Puzzle Setting & Puzzle Solving Toolkit   If this episode helped you see a way out, hit the subscribe button so we can keep bringing you the frameworks you need to understand what's true, what matters now, and what's next: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9vaDKz5TI7gaWKLc801Dw   And before you click away—send this episode to one founder or product leader you know who is burning out trying to hit the wrong targets.   Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/uncommon-leadership/id1654637165   Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/2BkXGceaZgVWxGQCXcrmgj   This podcast is brought to you by Uncommon Teams: https://uncommonteams.com/   Speakers on this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast:   Radhika Dutt | Guest Speaker Radhika Dutt, an MIT graduate, is an entrepreneur, consultant, and speaker who helps organizations move away from traditional metric-obsessed cultures to innovate smarter. Radhika brings profound technical and strategic expertise to the leadership space, having participated in five successful acquisitions—two of which were companies she founded.   She is the author of the book Radical Product Thinking: The New Mindset for Innovating Smarter, which has been translated into Chinese and Japanese. She is currently working on her second book, which explores why traditional corporate goals and targets consistently backfire, and the actionable frameworks leaders should use instead.   Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhika-dutt/ Free toolkit to apply the puzzle setting & solving methodology for leaders: https://www.radicalproduct.com/toolkit/#OHLToolkit   Michael Hunter | Host Michael Hunter is an executive coach, leadership strategist, and the founder of Uncommon Teams. Drawing on his experience working with leaders at tech giants like Microsoft and Salesforce, Michael helps founders and Heads of People align personal fulfillment with sustainable business success.   Using empathetic, human-centric frameworks, Michael guides leaders to build authentic teams, cultivate resilience, and embody certainty.   Work with Michael if you want to stop simply surviving their daily challenges and start leading with ease: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humbugreality/ Website: https://uncommonteams.com/ Newsletter: https://uncommonteams.com/newsletter-archive/ Read the book: https://uncommonteams.com/resilient-leader-workbook/ Work with Michael Hunter: https://uncommonteams.com/work-with-me/

    1h 2m

  5. APR 15

    Discovery to Innovation: A Physicist's Leadership Manual ft. Garrick Villaume

    Are you expecting predictable outcomes in a non-deterministic world? When you are a tech leader, your instinct is to rely on systems and logic to drive results.   But when an organizational change stalls, your team resists a new direction, or you find yourself exhausted by constant pivots—logic alone won't bridge the gap.   In fact, ignoring the fundamental physics of human systems is one of the most expensive operational mistakes a company can make.   In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter, sit down with Dr. Garrick Villaume.   With a Ph.D. in High-Energy Physics and three decades of experience scaling tech operations from clean-tech startups to Fortune 100 enterprises, Garrick knows exactly what it takes to orchestrate complex systemic transformations.   In this conversation, we explore concepts like: The P3 Framework How to stop fighting the essential process of change Why letting change happen to you is a recipe for failure How to identify what you can actually control to reduce burnout and navigate uncertainty   Episode Chapters 0:00 Welcome to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast 2:22 The Power of Bringing Your Authentic Self to Work 6:13 The Cost of Hiding Your True Identity at Work 14:06 Why Every Business Problem is a People Problem 16:41 The P3 Framework 21:34 The True Essence of Tech Innovation 26:05 Limiting Case Analysis & Navigating Command-and-Control 35:30 Why Teams Resist Change 36:44 How to bring about the Change you want to see 38:13 Computable vs. Uncomputable Variables in Leadership 41:42 Business Value of the P3 Framework 52:00 Process of managing complex systems 57:11 Final Advice for Tech Leaders   If you are a leader who excels at systems but struggles with the messy reality of managing uncertainty, this episode is exactly what you need to lead with certainty and ease.   Subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast for weekly conversations on navigating the complexity of human systems at work. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9vaDKz5TI7gaWKLc801Dw   Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/uncommon-leadership/id1654637165   Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/2BkXGceaZgVWxGQCXcrmgj   Brought to you by Uncommon Teams   About the Speakers Dr. Garrick Villaume | Guest Speaker With a Ph.D. in High-Energy Physics and three decades of experience scaling technical operations from clean-tech startups to Fortune 100 enterprises, Dr. Villaume bridges the gap between complex science and human enterprise.   He applies complexity science to technology management, innovating processes and building systemic intelligence for teams navigating the unknown.   Connect with Work with Dr. Garrick:https://www.linkedin.com/company/psi-593946412/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrickvillaume/   Michael Hunter | Podcast Host Michael Hunter is an Executive Coach, Consultant, and Author of The Resilient Tech Leader. With over three decades of experience at companies like Microsoft and Salesforce, his career has followed a simple progression: he started by debugging code, spent years debugging teams, and now helps leaders learn how to debug themselves.   He helps analytical tech leaders navigate the quiet complexity of their organizations, proving that the most important systems in tech aren't written in code—they're written in people.   Connect with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humbugreality/ Website: https://uncommonteams.com/ Newsletter: https://uncommonteams.com/newsletter-archive/ Read the book: https://uncommonteams.com/resilient-leader-workbook/ Work with Michael Hunter: https://uncommonteams.com/work-with-me/   #TechLeadership #SystemicIntelligence #ComplexSystems #UncommonLeadershipPodcast #MichaelHunter

    1h 5m

  6. APR 8

    Stop Trying to Solve Human Problems with Spreadsheets ft. Melissa Franks

    Are you trying to solve human problems with spreadsheets and logic?   When you are an analytical leader in the tech space, your instinct is to rely on data. But when a project stalls, a client becomes contentious, or your top performers start disengaging—no amount of logic or data will fix the friction.   In fact, ignoring the squishy emotional reality of your team is one of the most expensive operational mistakes a company can make.   In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter, sit down with Melissa Franks—Founder of On Call COO. As someone who has successfully managed $100M+ portfolios and led major global transformations for Fortune 100 companies, Melissa knows exactly what it takes to scale an organization.   Her secret? Operationalizing empathy.   In this conversation, Melissa and I give our two cents on concepts like: How to stop fighting your team's human nature and start leveraging it A framework for diffusing high-conflict meetings How to build an internal Executive Council to make better intuitive decisions And why retaining your team by aligning them with their innate strengths is the ultimate growth strategy   Episode Chapters 0:00 Welcome to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast 4:10 How to Be Vulnerable (Without Oversharing) 6:15 The Strengths Audit: Are You in the Right Role? 7:30 The Same Side of the Table Strategy for Conflict Resolution 11:15 How to Stop Micromanaging 14:45 How to Trust Your Gut When Making Decisions 21:20 Why Soft Skills Are the Best Cost-Saving Measure 26:15 How to Tell if You Need a Career Pivot 31:30 The Management Myth: Why It's Like Becoming a Parent 36:10 The Corporate Ladder vs. The Career Jungle Gym 41:45 Closing Advice for Tech Executives   If you are a leader who excels at systems but struggles with the messy reality of managing people, this episode is exactly what you need to lead with ease.   Subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast for weekly conversations on navigating the complexity of human systems at work. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9vaDKz5TI7gaWKLc801Dw   Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/uncommon-leadership/id1654637165   Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/2BkXGceaZgVWxGQCXcrmgj   Brought to you by Uncommon Teams   -- About the speakers Melissa Franks | Guest Speaker Melissa Franks is the Founder of On Call COO and an experienced Technology and Operations Executive. Formerly the COO of Allianz Technology of America, she has successfully managed $100M+ portfolios, led global mergers, and guided major organizational changes.   Today, she helps CEOs clear obstacles, align their teams, and grow sustainably without burning out their top talent.   Connect with Melissa Franks Website: https://www.melissafranks.com/fractionalcooservices Work with Melissa: https://www.melissafranks.com/contact LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissafranks/   Michael Hunter | Podcast Host Michael Hunter is an Executive Coach, Consultant, and Author of The Resilient Tech Leader. With over three decades of experience at companies like Microsoft and Salesforce, his career has followed a simple progression: he started by debugging code, spent years debugging teams, and now helps leaders learn how to debug themselves.   He helps analytical tech leaders navigate the quiet complexity of their organizations, proving that the most important systems in tech aren't written in code—they're written in people.   Connect with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humbugreality/ Website: https://uncommonteams.com/ Newsletter: https://uncommonteams.com/newsletter-archive/ Read the book: https://uncommonteams.com/resilient-leader-workbook/ Work with Michael Hunter: https://uncommonteams.com/work-with-me/

    48 min

  7. APR 1

    How to Find Your Purpose When You're Ready to Quit ft. Patrick Farran

    It is easy to spend an entire career in tech scaling products, hitting deadlines, and climbing the ladder-- only to wake up one day feeling completely misaligned.   Your body starts keeping score. You experience burnout. Self-sabotage. And the quiet realization that you are leading in a system that wasn't built for who you truly are.   In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, Michael Hunter sits down with Dr. Patrick Farran, Founder of Ad Lucem Group, TEDx speaker, and expert in organizational transformation, to discuss the profound difference between simply managing a team and leaving a lasting legacy.   Drawing from deeply personal stories, including the inspiring resilience of his father, an iconic teacher who transformed a devastating injury into a lifelong calling, Patrick unpacks how leaders can navigate the chaos of modern business by rooting themselves in purpose.   This conversation moves beyond standard management advice to explore: the emotional, human core of our careers decoding the signals your intuition is sending you how to map out what truly brings you fulfillment and how to create a work environment where both you and your team can lead authentically.   Episode Chapters 0:00 - Introduction: Welcome to Uncommon Leadership 1:45 - The Power of Legacy 8:30 - Victor Frankl, CrossFit, and the Power of Knowing Your Why 12:15 - How to Recognize Career Misalignment 15:40 - The Map of Meaningful Work (or How to Find Fulfillment at Work) 22:10 - Creating a User Manual for Your Leadership Style 27:50 - Appreciative Inquiry: Solving Problems with an Abundance Mindset 34:20 - The Magic Question That Unlocks Team Possibility 37:45 - The Ultimate Alignment Exercise   If you are a highly analytical leader feeling the friction of a purposeless grind, this episode will give you the tools to step out of the chaos, reconnect with your why, and unleash the Uncommon Hero you already are.   Subscribe to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast for weekly conversations on navigating the quiet complexity of human systems at work.   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9vaDKz5TI7gaWKLc801Dw   Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/uncommon-leadership/id1654637165   Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/2BkXGceaZgVWxGQCXcrmgj   Brought to you by Uncommon Teams   About the speakers Patrick Farran | Guest Speaker Patrick Farran, Ph.D., is the Founder and CEO of Ad Lucem Group, a TEDx Speaker, and co-author of The Intentional Executive. With 25+ years of experience across Fortune 100s and startups—and an academic background teaching at Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business—Patrick bridges the gap between organizational strategy and human engagement.   He helps tech leaders and executives navigate complex change, overcome resistance, and achieve breakthrough results through values-driven, strengths-based leadership.   Connect with Patrick & Ad Lucem Group: Website: adlucemgroup.com Read the Book: The Intentional Executive Free Resource: Download the "Succeed From Day One" Executive Guide Assess Your Team: Take the Peak Performance Assessment Work with Patrick: Schedule a Free Executive Strategy Session Michael Hunter | Podcast Host Michael Hunter is an Executive Coach, Consultant, and Author of The Resilient Tech Leader. With over three decades of experience at companies like Microsoft and Salesforce, his career has followed a simple progression: he started by debugging code, spent years debugging teams, and now helps leaders learn how to debug themselves.   He helps analytical tech leaders navigate the quiet complexity of their organizations, proving that the most important systems in tech aren't written in code—they're written in people. Connect with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humbugreality/ Website: https://uncommonteams.com/ Newsletter: https://uncommonteams.com/newsletter-archive/ Read the book: https://uncommonteams.com/resilient-leader-workbook/ Work with Michael Hunter: https://uncommonteams.com/work-with-me/ #michaelhunter #uncommonteams #leadership #podcast

    44 min

  8. MAR 25

    How Leaders Spot Team Problems Before They Explode ft. Oksana Kovalchuk

    As a leader (especially in tech), you're constantly expected to have every answer, fix every issue, and carry the full weight of decisions.   But what if you don't need to solve every problem or know everything to lead effectively?   Real leadership means recognizing when questions reveal deeper issues, using vulnerability to ease tension, and encouraging your people to find their own solutions.   In this episode of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast, I, Michael Hunter, talk with Oksana Kovalchuk — Founder & CEO of ANODA (a top-rated UX design agency recognized by Clutch in 2025) — who started coding at age 5, survived big outsourcing giants, and built her own agency where connection beats rigid control.   Together, we dive into: The mirror neurons hack How to avoid the "fix everything" trap The golden rule that reshapes hiring and organization culture Why life is too short for bad UX and relationships   More than just theories — these are hard-won lessons from people who've faced the full storm of tech growth, team friction, and founder weight, and come through with greater ease and authenticity.   If you're a founder, tech leader, or anyone building teams who feels the weight of having to know/fix it all, this episode offers uncommon insights that make you rethink your current leadership style.   Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & Episode Intro 00:45 – Introducing the guest: Oksana Kovalchuk 01:08 – Integrating your whole self into your leadership style 12:50 – Why Leaders Don't Need to Solve Every Problem 14:30 – The Discount Method 17:00 – Pushing Teams to Become Leaders 19:20 – Vision, Strategy & the Founder's Role 26:51 – Vulnerability & Mirror Neurons to Reduce Stress 50:59 – When Silly Questions Signal a Deeper Problem 56:26 – How to Connect with Oksana + 10% Discount Offer 57:53 – Closing Thoughts: Life Is Too Short for Bad UX   Tune in now: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9vaDKz5TI7gaWKLc801Dw   Prefer audio? Stream here: Apple- https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/uncommon-leadership/id1654637165   Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/2BkXGceaZgVWxGQCXcrmgj   Brought to you by Uncommon Teams   Speaker Bios   Michael Hunter Michael Hunter is the host of the Uncommon Leadership Podcast and the founder of Uncommon Teams. He works with leaders to align personal fulfillment with business success, building authentic, resilient teams that thrive amid complexity. Through conversations that explore vulnerability, adaptability, and human-centered leadership, Michael helps professionals move beyond surviving challenges to truly flourishing.   Connect with Michael Hunter: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/humbugreality/ Read more about his work: https://uncommonteams.com/ The Resilient Tech Leader: https://uncommonteams.com/resilient-leader-workbook/ Work with Michael Hunter: https://uncommonteams.com/work-with-me/     Oksana Kovalchuk Oksana Kovalchuk, Founder & CEO of ANODA (Top UX Design Agency by Clutch 2025), brings 18+ years of software development and UI/UX leadership. Oksana specializes in elevating startups — helping them focus on strategy while building remarkable digital products and high-performing teams through measured, human-centered design.   Connect with Oksana Kovalchuk: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oksanakovalchuk/ Read more about his work: https://www.anoda.mobi/ Work with Oksana Kovalchuk: https://cal.com/anoda/anoda-linkedin-meeting  [ Oksana Kovalchuk is generously offering the Uncommon Leadership community 10% off her services for first-time clients. Use the code UNCOMMON2025 to start your journey with Anoda today!]

    59 min
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Ratings & Reviews

3
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

If you've ever felt out of place or been told that your uniqueness is a liability, this podcast is for you. Welcome to the Uncommon Leadership Podcast. I'm your host, Michael Hunter—an executive coach, author of The Resilient Tech Leader, and founder of Uncommon Teams. With over 35 years in tech, including leadership roles at Microsoft and Salesforce, I've learned that you cannot build an Uncommon Team without doing the uncommon work on yourself. So, every week, I invite industry leaders, founders, and innovators to explore self-alignment and help you embody a sense of certainty in the unpredictable world of tech. Because when your certainty takes root, everything levels up. Your leadership becomes unmistakable, your contribution becomes consistent, and your presence reshapes everyone around you. Your uniqueness is a superpower. Imagine what you could create if you unleashed the Uncommon Hero you already are.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Hunter, Uncommon Change, LLC
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    101
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022–2024
  • Show Website
    Uncommon Leadership